Understanding US Dollar Index
The US Dollar Index is traded on the New York Board of Trade at Finex and at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME). The US Dollar Index is used by traders to get the big picture of the overall trend of the dollar. It is widely quoted in the press and on quote services.
The Federal Reserve Board had introduced the US Dollar Index in 2003. The index is the result of the Smithsonian Agreement that had replaced the Bretton Woods Agreement. The US Dollar Index is similar to the Feds Dollar Index which is a trade weighted index. The Fed gives value to each individual currency in the index based on how much it trades with the US.
However, the value of each index is different and it should not be confused with one another. The minimum tick on the US Dollar Index is 0.1 and equals $10. The futures contract expires on March, June, September and December.
Delivery is physical and means that you receive dollars based on the value of the index. Delivery is made on the second business day during the month of the expiring contract prior to the third Wednesday. The overall value of the futures contract on the index is 1,000 times the value of the index in dollars. Suppose the value of the index is 80. Its value in dollars will be $ 8,000.
Delivery day of the US Dollar Index Futures Contract is the third Wednesday of the contract month. No trading limits are placed on the US Dollar Index. Trading hours are from 8.05 AM to 3:00 PM. There is overnight trading also from 7 PM to 10 PM.
The US Dollar Index was modified at the inception of the Euro. It is weighted in a way thats similar to the Feds trade weighted index as follows: Euro 57.6%, Japanese Yen 13.6%, Great Britain Pound 11.9%, Canadian Dollar 9.1%, Swedish Krona 4.2% and Swiss Franc 3.6%. The US Dollar Index is best used as an indicator of trends in the currency markets.
However, you must keep this in your mind that as compared to trading currencies, the US Dollar Index is not a good trading vehicle. The best way to trade the index is by using the currency mutual funds. There are a few good currency mutual funds that you can find. You should know that one of the secrets of knowing trading success is understanding what kind of personality you have. You should know whether you are weak nerved or strong nerved.
Spot Currency trading where you trade the spot currency market is not for the weak nerved. Suppose you are afraid of taking a coffee or bathroom break for the fear the market will move against you and in a blink of an eye you will end up with a margin call. In such a case you need to invest in currency mutual funds based on US Dollar Index and relax.
You are taking away the big part of the risk involved in trading currencies by trading these currency mutual funds. You can have a pretty good idea as to how your fund is going to close at the end of the day if you check the dollar index a few times during the day. - 23200
The Federal Reserve Board had introduced the US Dollar Index in 2003. The index is the result of the Smithsonian Agreement that had replaced the Bretton Woods Agreement. The US Dollar Index is similar to the Feds Dollar Index which is a trade weighted index. The Fed gives value to each individual currency in the index based on how much it trades with the US.
However, the value of each index is different and it should not be confused with one another. The minimum tick on the US Dollar Index is 0.1 and equals $10. The futures contract expires on March, June, September and December.
Delivery is physical and means that you receive dollars based on the value of the index. Delivery is made on the second business day during the month of the expiring contract prior to the third Wednesday. The overall value of the futures contract on the index is 1,000 times the value of the index in dollars. Suppose the value of the index is 80. Its value in dollars will be $ 8,000.
Delivery day of the US Dollar Index Futures Contract is the third Wednesday of the contract month. No trading limits are placed on the US Dollar Index. Trading hours are from 8.05 AM to 3:00 PM. There is overnight trading also from 7 PM to 10 PM.
The US Dollar Index was modified at the inception of the Euro. It is weighted in a way thats similar to the Feds trade weighted index as follows: Euro 57.6%, Japanese Yen 13.6%, Great Britain Pound 11.9%, Canadian Dollar 9.1%, Swedish Krona 4.2% and Swiss Franc 3.6%. The US Dollar Index is best used as an indicator of trends in the currency markets.
However, you must keep this in your mind that as compared to trading currencies, the US Dollar Index is not a good trading vehicle. The best way to trade the index is by using the currency mutual funds. There are a few good currency mutual funds that you can find. You should know that one of the secrets of knowing trading success is understanding what kind of personality you have. You should know whether you are weak nerved or strong nerved.
Spot Currency trading where you trade the spot currency market is not for the weak nerved. Suppose you are afraid of taking a coffee or bathroom break for the fear the market will move against you and in a blink of an eye you will end up with a margin call. In such a case you need to invest in currency mutual funds based on US Dollar Index and relax.
You are taking away the big part of the risk involved in trading currencies by trading these currency mutual funds. You can have a pretty good idea as to how your fund is going to close at the end of the day if you check the dollar index a few times during the day. - 23200
About the Author:
Mr. Ahmad Hassam has done Masters from Harvard University. He is interested in day trading stocks and currencies. Know Swing Trading. Learn Forex Trading!
posted by X - Men @ 1:39 AM
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